Thinking about scalpels and amputation knives is enough to make most people cringe. However, healthcare workers used many of these painful tools late into the 19th century. Some variations of the tools made their way into present-day operating rooms. Although healthcare has come a long way, with technology drastically improving the medical tools we use and the types of procedures we can perform, it wasn’t always so kind. Whether you work in trauma surgery, oncology, or in emergency medicine, you can be glad that some of these tools aren’t still around. With that said, for your viewing pleasure, AllPhysicianJobs has put together ten of the most spine-chilling medical devices of yesteryear—Take a look and see how many of these vintage medical tools you recognize. Top 10 Vintage Medical Tools 1. Tonsil Guillotine Used during the 1860’s to remove the tonsils during a tonsillectomy, this surgical instrument was meant to remove both tonsils at once. Yet, after much practice, the tonsil guillotine was replaced during the 20th century with forceps and scalpels due to the high rate of hemorrhaging. 2. Osteotome This surgical instrument was used for cutting bone, and it essentially acted as a small, hand-powered chainsaw. The osteotome was first designed to cut through the skull and later used for amputations. There have been multiple variations of the tool throughout the decades. Today the osteotome is used in dental surgeries and rhinoplasty. This is one of those vintage medical tools that has managed to stick around. 3. Electroretinogram This tool is used to measure the electrical responses in the eye. The electroretinogram is still used today, but the device looks more friendly and less Clockwork Orange. 4. Artificial Leech Using real leeches was a medical favorite for bleeding patients, so doctors developed a chamber with a syringe and vacuum to pinpoint where they wanted to extract blood from patients. This seemed easier than letting live leeches crawl all over their patients. 5. Electric Bath This was an alternative to electrotherapy and thought to be very therapeutic for degenerative diseases, arthritis, and joint pain. While this device might sound torturous, it is rather relaxing and was even found on the first class level of the Titanic. Electric baths have evolved into modern-day tanning beds. 6. Hemorrhoid Forceps This tool was used to grasp a hemorrhoid between two blades to stop...

Living in the technological age doesn’t always mean people are as quick to adapt as we’d hoped. Today, the smartphone and computers represent the most widely adopted consumer technologies worldwide. The proliferation of these devices provides amazing access to lots of useful information, connections, and of course, entertainment. Although video games have been around for several decades, it’s only now that we’re realizing the effect they have on mental health. Earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified “gaming disorder” as a legitimate mental health condition. Here we’ll discuss this classification and treating internet gaming disorder to keep you up-to-date! Search for Addiction Medicine Jobs Today! Classifying Internet Gaming Disorder According to the WHO’s draft side of their 11th International Classification of Diseases (ICD), internet gaming disorder is poised to remain a clinically recognized condition. This report enables the sharing of health information between international healthcare providers, so it’s clear that this condition was serious enough to make the cut. But what exactly is gaming disorder? The disorder is classified as behavior with “impaired control over gaming,” in terms of an individual’s capacity to quit, as well as factors like intensity, duration, and frequency. Of course, this falls under the umbrella of “disorders due to addictive behaviors,” although it’s characterized by a priority of gaming over daily activities. The main reasoning behind classifying internet gaming disorder as a unique condition comes from the unique ways it integrates into a suffer’s life. Unlike addictions that fall outside of someone’s activities of daily living, treating internet gaming disorder presents specific considerations. Smartphones are hard to just turn off entirely. Someone addicted to playing a game on their phone may also use the same device to stay in touch with family, use it as an alarm clock, and many other activities that are important to one’s daily routine. Additionally, having gaming systems in one’s home makes recognizing the boundary between entertainment and a debilitating addiction quite difficult. Treating Internet Gaming Disorder Critics argue that internet gaming disorder represents a symptom of more serious underlying conditions than a standalone mental illness. Still, it’s agreed that the condition is serious and becoming prevalent now more than ever. For addiction medicine physicians wondering about treating internet gaming disorder, the general recommendations include: Counseling and Psychotherapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 12-Step Programs Medication in combination with other treatments The...

Thinking about scalpels and amputation knives is enough to make most people cringe. However, healthcare workers used many of these painful tools late into the 19th century. Some variations of the tools made their way into present-day operating rooms. Although healthcare has come a long way, with technology drastically improving the medical tools we use and the types of procedures we can perform, it wasn’t always so kind. Whether...

Living in the technological age doesn’t always mean people are as quick to adapt as we’d hoped. Today, the smartphone and computers represent the most widely adopted consumer technologies worldwide. The proliferation of these devices provides amazing access to lots of useful information, connections, and of course, entertainment. Although video games have been around for several decades, it’s only now that we’re realizing the effect...

This past Sunday, fans of the popular TV show This Is Us saw an especially heartbreaking episode. While the show is known for tugging at the heartstrings throughout each episode, this one took the cake. Keeping spoilers to a minimum, the family of main characters lost their home to a house fire. One character, in particular, experienced severe burns and other fire-related injuries. While this tragic tale had many pulling out their...

As a healthcare professional, you’ve probably come across homeopathic medicine. You may even have patients that swear by it. However, these holistic “miracle cures” are falling under the scrutiny of the FDA. These homeopathic medicine issues are under fire, and the Food and Drug Administrations vows to crack down on them. The Food and Drug Administration on Monday issued a new proposal for regulating homeopathic medicines that have...

As scientists continue to make progress in decoding the human genome, we’re constantly getting closer to understanding the cause of some of the most common and uncommon illnesses. We’ve been able to pinpoint the location of defective genes which cause rare, debilitation conditions like Huntington’s disease, cystic fibrosis, and even some types of muscular dystrophy. But, is there a link between genes and depression? It’s still unclear...

With the Fall concert season rapidly approaching, you’ll see many music-lovers of all ages enjoying these outdoor concerts in a variety of different venues. However, one major health concern has been on the rise and it has to do with these popular gatherings. With the high-decibel music that occurs at the typical Fall concert, it’s no surprise that physicians are seeing a rise in hearing issues from those attending loud music...